Hanoi sets record for National Day holiday visitors and revenue

By Phuong Anh September 2, 2025 | 01:25 am PT

Hanoi welcomed nearly 2.1 million visitors during the National Day holiday, three times the same period last year and beating the 1.95 million visitors Ho Chi Minh City recorded over the Reunification holiday in April.

International arrivals to Hanoi were estimated at over 80,000, up 35% year-on-year, according to the capital's Department of Tourism.

Total tourism revenue is projected at nearly VND4.5 trillion (US$170.8 million), an 80% increase from 2024.

Người dân, du khách đổ về khu vực đường Trần Phú sáng 2/9. Ảnh: Nguyễn Đông

People gather on Tran Phu Street in Hanoi to watch the National Day parade on Sept. 2, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

For the four-day holiday starting from Saturday, Aug. 30, the 3–5 star hotel segment reported high occupancy, with some like Novotel Thai Ha, Novotel Suites, Lacasa Hanoi, Bao Son, Grand Mercure reaching 100% on Sept. 1.

Average occupancy across hotels and tourist apartments was about 83%, up nearly 23 percentage points year-on-year. The Department of Tourism said service providers met standards for security, safety, and food hygiene.

Hanoi staged a wide range of activities for visitors alongside celebrations marking the 80th anniversaries of the August Revolution and National Day. Highlights included a series promoting the capital's tourism, culture, and history.

An exhibition on the 80-year journey of national achievements which opened at the National Exhibition Center in Dong Anh Commune on Aug. 28 drew more than 1 million visitors in three days. Around 650,000 visitors came on Aug. 31 alone.

Riêng trong ngày 31/8, Trung tâm triển lãm ghi nhận 650.000 khách tham quan.

The National Exhibition Center in Hanoi's Dong Anh Commune draws visitors to an exhibition of national achievements. Photo by VnExpress

Major attractions also saw strong footfall, including around 33,000 visitors to Hanoi Zoo, 18,000 to the Temple of Literature, more than 26,000 to Hoa Lo Prison Relic, and around 33,000 to Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

City tours and historical itineraries surged, with many tour operators fully booked 1–2 months in advance. According to travel agencies, many visitors chose to start trips early (Aug. 27–28) and stay back in the city center on Sept. 2 for watching the parade.

Domestic tours accounted for about 60% of total bookings.

Tourism experts and industry leaders said Hanoi’s lead in both visitor numbers and revenue over the holiday was to be expected, as the capital hosted the centerpiece National Day commemorations, much as Ho Chi Minh City did around the Reunification holiday on April 30 with a similar military parade.